We Do What We Can

Nowadays, it seems like there’s more of a struggle to maintain a healthy and balanced diet especially for children. Although the health kick trend has been growing more and more popular, it often does not get to many communities that have the lack of resources and knowledge to understand these trends. Instead, they continue to purchase foods that are extremely unhealthy for their kids due to their lack of resources. We need to help support and collaborate with each other to help aid these communities in providing more knowledge in the foods they’re putting into their system.

A great way to implement a healthy guide is to first get these kids to track down what they eat in a food and nutrition diary. Through this, we can help them keep track of what are good foods to continue eating and what is actually harming their bodies. A good tracking system in a diary can make a huge impact on a kid’s diet. Think of all those apps that track calories and fitness steps. This is similar but also makes the child accountable for what they’re intaking.

To first implement this process, we need to create a template diary for tracking your food. The easier this template is, the more likely a child will fill it in every day or even after every meal. After showing them what is healthy to eat and what isn’t, our hope is that the child will slowly be able to determine for themselves what they should be eating. Through a steady incline of food knowledge, our goal is that the child will eventually know the stats of everything they’re eating. Soon, they should be able to determine the difference between healthy foods and non-healthy foods.

This system, if implemented, will definitely help guide not just kids but full communities to maintain a healthier and balanced diet. To also include in the tracking diary, we can create a template for exercise and other forms of activities that may help a person with their fitness plan. Eventually this may even serve as a foundation for people who want to start a health kick for themselves!

Where would comedy be without clumsy people? We all get a good cathartic laugh out of characters in movies and television shows falling down stairs, walking into open manholes, and dropping heavy things on their feet. However, being clumsy yourself in real life is not so fun. It can be extremely embarrassing and cause you a good amount of physical pain.

Here are some ways that can help you to reduce that troublesome clumsy streak:

Strength and Flexibility

Watch athletic people. Chances are you will notice that they tend to make fewer of the physical errors that define clumsiness. This is not because they are wired differently than you, but likely due to the fact that they have better physical control over their bodies. Strength and flexibility allow you to not only have smoother and more effective movement during regular activities but also make it easier to quickly make corrections when losing your balance. Work on strengthening your core and increasing flexibility with exercises like Pilates.

Pay Closer Attention

Daydreaming can provide a nice mental break from time to time, but it is important to be aware of your surroundings and the people nearby This reduces the chances of you bumping into another person or tripping over an object that you missed because your head was in the clouds.

Clean Up

If you are the type of person who tends to trip over things, be sure to periodically clean your living and work spaces. Take any object off of the floor that doesn’t need to be there.

Relax and Sleep

Anxiety can affect your ability to concentrate, leading to accidents. The same can be said of insufficient sleep. Try to reduce the amount of stress you experience during the day and take the necessary steps to ensure that you get a good night’s sleep.

Social media has been wonderful at bringing people together and allowing us to reconnect with individuals from our past. Unfortunately, it also has a considerable downside: the level of discourse seems to decrease on a monthly basis. People used to post online with basic decorum, but that increasingly seems to be a thing of the past. Cyberbullying is distressingly common and rudeness is so commonplace, that it has actually become more or less accepted as part of the online experience.

Watching or reading the news is little better. “If it bleeds, it leads” has never been more prevalent, and with an empty-headed, pathological liar as president, the news cycle is filled with negativity. This almost inevitably bleeds into our interactions with others, particularly if you are on the opposite side of the political spectrum.

Anyone subjected to a constant barrage of negativity will inevitably begin to feel the effects of it.

What can you do to avoid such feelings and be more positive? Here are a couple of ways that can help you unplug from the world for a bit and recharge.

Quiet Time

It is important for us to find some quiet time each day in order to calm ourselves. Try to find a place where you can be by yourself for 15-30 minutes each day. Close your eyes and take deep breaths. You can also listen to relaxing music.

Meditation

If you respond well to this sort of relaxation, take the next step and practice meditation. This is something you can learn to do on your own or in a group. Many people choose the latter option because attending a meditation class helps them to make the commitment. Also, these groups are led by knowledgeable practitioners who can help your progress with meditation by offering suggestions.

Whatever route you choose, the important thing to remember with meditation is that even a small gain in the amount of time you spend is a victory. No one masters meditation in only a few sessions, so don’t be hard on yourself if you find it particularly challenging at first.

The internet initially seemed like one of those inventions that would only be used by a niche audience. However, as the ‘90s wore on, more and more people saw just what an amazing source of information and entertainment it could be.

Businesses saw advantages. If they set up their own website, they could do as much advertising as they wanted for almost no cost. Initially, most firms just put up pages that had a few photos and contact information. However, as more and more people got online, the incredible potential to reach huge numbers meant that companies got more ambitious and creative.

The average person also discovered that blogging provided them with the possibility of a huge forum for their writings, opinions, art, etc. Businesses also began to do some interesting things with their own blogs, using this method of delivery as a way of reeling in customers without necessarily hitting them with the hard sell.

Both individuals and companies probably wonder about how often they should update their sites with new material. Here are some hints…

Google

Google is easily the world’s largest search engine, and everyone wanting to be noticed strives to rank highly in their search results. While various factors come into play, one of the most important when it comes ranking is having an active blog. Put simply: the more often you post, the more Google will notice you. That greatly increases your chances of ranking well.

You may do excellent work, but if you only post new blogs every once in a while, you will get lost in the shuffle.

Staying Ahead of the Competition

Standing out is especially important for businesses. Depending on what you do, there could be a multitude of competition out there. Regularly producing fun and informative posts is not only a good way to attract new customers, it also helps you to look more appealing than the competition.

Recurring Events

Does your blog include recurring events as part of its theme? Then regular posts are an absolute must. If you make this your beat, you must live up to that responsibility or risk losing your regulars. That will decrease your search rankings and make it less likely that potential followers will connect with you.

Have you ever been on a diet? Not fun, are they? Diets require a lot of planning, dedication, and willpower to succeed. Many people start them with the best of intentions only to falter and give up. This can be very disconcerting and even cause them to plunge further into the world of unhealthy eating in order to alleviate their depression.

Proper planning is always a good way to ensure success and that applies to dieting, too. Here are some steps to follow that will help you formulate a plan to increase your chances of success:

Past Success and Failures

If you have dieted in the past, what worked and what didn’t? Can you recreate the successful elements from those previous attempts? Also think about what didn’t work and make sure to avoid those pitfalls.

Track Those Calories

Eating right and watching those calories are two of the key factors in a successful diet. Fortunately, apps like Lose It! make tracking calories easier than ever. Some even have a barcode feature, so all you have to do it scan the code and the information will automatically appear.

Eliminate Those Nasty Temptations

Are there certain foods and drinks that act as Kryptonite for your dieting powers? If at all possible, remove them from your home or any other spot where you have easy access. Also, avoid any spots where they are found.

Plan a Healthy Menu

Talk to your general practitioner and dietician and come up with a diet plan that will keep you on-track for calories, while also providing you with the protein and nutrients required for your gender and period of life.

Find an Exercise Buddy

It can be tough to go it alone, so it helps to have a supportive partner. Are any of your friends and family planning to diet? If so, try to start at the same time with them and exercise together. You can also provide each other with moral support and daily check-ins to monitor results and motivation.

Any cat lover will tell you that one of the primary appeals of these animals is their ability to purr. In addition to the softness and cuteness, a cat’s purr adds immensely to its appeal because human beings find that sound to be very comforting and inviting.

Even after all these centuries and scientific advancements, it is still not entirely clear why cats purr. It does seem to indicate contentment and relaxation, but could there be another reason as well?

Science has shown that cats may also purr when they are frightened, hungry, or injured. We also know that some large species of cats, such as cheetahs and cougars, can also do it. Some believe that in addition to soothing those around them, cats may choose to purr as a way of soothing themselves during periods of stress.

Cats can also do it to comfort other felines. There are numerous reports of cats laying beside injured felines and purring, apparently as a way of providing comfort to their friend.

Interestingly, they may also do it to promote bone and tissue growth/repair. You might have heard about how high frequency sound can aid in tissue regeneration. Domestic cats commonly purr at a frequency of 26 Hertz, which falls within that sound range. So kitty may also be helping herself sometimes when she turns up the volume.

However, for most people, the sheer appeal of a purring cat boils down to nothing more than how comforting it can be. Much like a dog’s wagging tail, the purring of a cat indicates contentment, happiness, and love in their purest forms. It is the sort of welcoming presence that makes life easier at the end of a long and hard day. It also represents the sort of selfless, uncomplicated love that rarely exists between human beings.

As phobias go, Glossophobia is one of the most common. Do not know that word? Well, you probably have that phobia anyway because many people do. It means fear of public speaking and we cannot recall ever running across someone who loves giving a speech.

Do you have a speech coming up and are you dreading it? Here are some things you can do in preparation:

Do your research

Unless it is a topic that you know inside and out, it is important to do as much research as you need in preparation for the speech. Not only do you need to present a persuasive case for your speech, but you need to know enough about the topic in order to possibly answer questions as well.

Overcome your fear of public speaking

This is something that will quite likely take some time and it is possible that you may never fully be comfortable giving a speech. However, there are many people with this hang-up who are able to function fine nonetheless.

Think seriously about what it is that makes you uncomfortable. If you feel constantly in the grip of anxiety, consider seeing a therapist. If you are worried about rejection, try to remember that you are an adult and that you will be speaking to adults, so even if your speech is not received as well as you would wish, it is unlikely that this will be obvious. You can also join a group like Toastmasters, which specializes in making people better public speakers.

Focus on your material, not the audience

Depending on the environment, you may not even be able to see the people you are speaking to. If you can, be sure to occasionally make eye contact. However, beyond that, the attention should be focused on your speech and delivering the material. Do not worry about what anyone else is doing unless it is somehow disrupting your ability to talk.

Everyone is different and that is one of the things that helps to make life interesting. Some people are very gregarious and outgoing, while others tend to keep to themselves and can have trouble spending a lot of time in groups. There is nothing wrong with either personality type, but our society tends to favour those who love to socialize and can hold their own when surrounded by many people.

As a result, some view shyness as a curse that they need to overcome. If you fall into that category, here are some things that you can try in an effort to make it easier to break out of your shell.

Experiment

Do you find it difficult to strike up a conversation with a stranger? If so, try it on a limited basis. Choose a situation where an unsuccessful conversation attempt will have little or no importance. Once you have done this a few times, it will all start to seem easier for you and more natural.

Except that every situation will not go well

Shy people often believe that those with confidence are socially infallible. That is very rarely the case. Even the most confident and outgoing person will have conversations that end in an embarrassing fashion. The difference is that they do not let it bother them.

Go easy on yourself

If you are very shy, setting a goal of being talkative and outgoing can be a major step. Thus, you need to be patient and go easy on yourself during the occasions when things do not go well. Like many things in life, it is a learning process and even bad experiences can be worth going through because of what you learn from them. It seems painful at the time, but this is all part of changing who you are.

It seems like many of us have little spare time these days, so wouldn’t it be nice if we took advantage of the extra time we do have? Spare time should mean more than just lying in bed and binge watching Netflix.

Here are some ways in which you can make that spare time pay off for you:

Plan Your Attack

Chances are there are some things around the house that need doing. Look around and make a list. That way, when any extra time does become available, you will know exactly what to do and get right on it.

Get Some Exercise

Few of us get as much exercise as we should each week, so why not work on your health? Staying healthy is key to both a long life and doing better everyday. Even if it is just going for a walk, get up and get moving for at least a half hour daily. Periodically moving around is especially important if you have a sedentary job that finds you mostly sitting at a desk.

Work on Your Computer

When is the last time you emptied the cache on your computer or de-fragged it? Chances are your desktop could use reorganizing, not to mention your email account. Take some time to get your computer in working order and this will save you time when you are busy and rushing deadlines.

Work on Your Résumé

You can be perfectly happy in your job, but that is no reason not to be keep your résumé complete and up to date. You never know when you might want or need to change your job. Also, it’s very good to have a correct résumé up on LinkedIn, in case a prospective employer scouts you and decides that your credentials would be a good fit.

Friendships are an important part of anyone’s life. While we may be especially close to our parents and siblings, friendship can sometimes provide an even greater level of trust and satisfaction. Thus, when a close friendship ends, it can be quite devastating.

Have you recently experienced the end of a friendship and are having trouble getting back on your feet? Here are some tips on how you can find closure and move on with your life.

Accept That It is Over

Friendships end for quite a few reasons, some of them very hard to understand. However, if a friend has chosen to stop contact with you, it is usually best to respect their wishes. You may find no logic in their reasoning, but this may be a route they have chosen because they don’t want to give you the true reason. Whatever the case, continuing to push the issue long after they have stated their desire serves no purpose.

People Change

Sometimes friendships end because the bond that generated just isn’t there anymore. When that happens, the mutual benefits also end and a friendship may continue to just limp along on fumes. Better to put an end to it at that point, rather than pretend that there is still something there.

Put Your Pain on Paper

Write your former friend a letter expressing everything you wanted to say about the situation and never got a chance. Then take the letter and throw it in the garbage or put it away in a drawer. Only you should ever see it.

Put Away Memories of Them

If you find it painful to have pictures of your former friend, or objects they gave you, on view, put them all away. Hold off on throwing them out, however; these might be memories that mean a lot to you sometime down the road.

Many of us have have fond memories of the pets we had as children. However, most parents these days have less time to spend with their kids than our moms and dads did. Many families are also in the midst of a financial squeeze, thanks to a lessened economy and stagnant wages. Consequently, difficult decisions are sometimes necessary when it comes to what can be purchased.

Most children love the idea of a pet, while many adults don’t love the cost of vet and food bills. Wondering whether you should get a pet for your child? Here are some reasons why it is actually a good idea:

Exercise

While this usually won’t work with cats, dogs help to ensure that kids get outside and exercise, either through playing with or walking the dog.

Responsibility

Parents often struggle to instill a sense of responsibility in their children. Your kids may not care about the lawn, but they do care about the dog, so that provides motivation for them to regularly feed and care for it.

Reduced Anxiety

Is your child frequently anxious? Studies show that children with pets tend to be less stressed, as well as less lonely.

Increased Self-Esteem

Children who successfully raise pets, particularly ones that are popular and admired, experience an increase in self-esteem.

Fewer Allergies

Exposure to pet dander can be problematic for some people. However, studies have shown that children exposed to this sort of allergen at a very young age develop stronger immune systems. Consequently, they are less likely to have problems with allergies later in life.

Discipline

Helping to raise and train pets can help children know the importance of discipline. Kids come to understand that cats and dogs cannot be allowed to behave just any way they want; that lesson carries over to humans as well.